(Newser)
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Speaking at a memorial service in Joplin today, President Obama promised, "We're not going to stop 'til Joplin's back on its feet." Obama, fresh off his trip to Europe, arrived in the tornado-ravaged town today to comfort survivors and tour devastated neighborhoods. He promised government help while praising the community's response to the tragedy, the AP reports. "You've demonstrated a simple truth," he said. "That amid heartbreak and tragedy no one is a stranger. Everybody is a brother. Everybody is a sister. We can all love one another."

Elsewhere in Joplin, where at least 40 are still missing, members of Peace Lutheran Church met in the parking lot to hold a worship service today even though the church building was destroyed. “It means everything to me,” one member tells the Joplin Globe. “I couldn’t stay away today.” Click for the latest from Joplin, where the death toll is at 142.

This shows the fallacy of the conservative philosophy. Because they're convinced that government cannot do anything well, they saw no reason not to appoint an unqualified political crony as director of FEMA...and New Orleans suffered. President Obama -- as did President Clinton before him -- appointed someone competent and qualified, because there are some things that only government can do. It's made all the difference.